Icons vs. thumbnails

Q. In the last two months, when I open a folder of photos, each file is the same default scene. I click on view for different icon size and nothing changes. How can I get pictures show up in the folder so that I can have a quick glance of each file?

A. Every time you load up a folder with images it causes Vista to go through and make tiny little preview images for the files. As you note, it’s a good way to have a quick glance at the contents without having to open each file to see what it is a picture of.

The process of creating and rendering these preview icons does take a little processing power and could (conceivably) slow the system down. That is why you have the option to have a default icon rather than a custom icon when viewing your files in this manner.

Somehow or another, this option got changed on your computer.

To re-enable it, open the folder and click on Tools, Folder Options and then View and make sure the box was next to “Always show icons, never thumbnails” is